Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-03

Cox was persuaded to rise from his sick bed
for the purpose of voting. The ex-Confed-
crates stood shoulder to shoulder in line OF
battle, silent, but firm, while acting as re-
serves to support the guns which were being
fred by their allies, Bragg, Warren and
Springer. General Bragg's speech against
the bill was one of the bitterest pieces of in
yective ever uttered in the House. Some
passages in it were simply brutal. General
Bragg boosted that he was entitled to speak
for the soldiers of the country and to say that
thew spurned such measure, because he was
the hero of MANY battles himself. and had
heard the loud huzzas of his troops as he rode
down the line. Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa replied
that there was another General who for
time fought the battles of his country, and
fought them bravely, and who, as well as
G aneral Bragg, heard the loud huzzas of his
troops as he rode down the line. And his
name was Benedict Arnold. The most dra-
matte scene of the day occurred when Col.
Matson, chairman of the Pensions Commit
tee, at the close of very forclble and tenn
perate speech in favor of the bill, unrolled
long petition dated 1884. in favor OF granting
pension of sat least So per month" to every
honorably discharged soldier, and disclosed
there among the list of signers the signature
of Grover Cleveland and a special note COM
mendng the object Of the petition! This
caused profound sensation, and was fol-
lowed BY shouts and cheers from the repub-
lcans. The debate lasted three hours, and
was hot and bitter. The vote was taken
amid profound silence, and when at its close
the result was announced, showing that the
President had been sustained, the veil which
went up from the Southern side of the House
reminded one of the old war times when the
rebels were charging the Union troops.
JOURNALISM IN WASHINGTON.
There is no city in the United States where
there is less spirit and independence displayed
in journalism than in Washington. Large
numbers of the republican clerks who for
merly held office in the departments have
been dismissed and their places filled by
democrats. Those republicans who remain
dare not read republican sheet except Sc
cretIy. In this way, and in a great many
others, the change of administration has bad
a tendency to materially reduce the subscrip-
ton lists of the republican daily and Sunday
morning papers. The temptation to evade
this tendency by drifting along with the pop
ular sentiment which prevails in Washington
at this time, is very strong. States rights,
Southern arrogance, and the lost cause,
are fashionable just now, and the nose of the
North is out of joint. One of those papers
which danced attendance upon President
Arthur during his term was the Washington
Capital. Now it performs the same Office for
the present Chief Magistrate. 1t is a BRAIN
less sheet, and the State secrets which it
parades with such pomposity come, no doubt,
from some of the White House cooks. Its
favorite amusement is villifying Mr.. Blaine.
Scarce an issue is printed that does not have
some coarse allusion to the leader of the re-
publican party.
The MOUNTAIN WoN'T Come TO MAHoMET.
1t has always been the custom for the
President to spend the last night of the clos
ing session of each Congress at the Capitol,
ready to sign important bills. But Mr..
Cleveland is governed neither by custom nor
precedent, and it is reported that he will
| spend the last hours of the session which is
now drawing to close, at the Executive
Mansion, which is a mile away. Consequent
ly, bills which are passed at late hour can
not be sent to the White House and returned
in time to be announced to the two houses
before they adjourn.
The LAST DAYS OF CONGRESS-.
During the few days of the coming week
which remain to Congress, there will be the
usual amount of hasty legislation which al
ways characterizes the last days of the SEES
sion. The struggles for precedence, espec
tally in the House, will be great.
Possibility OF AN EXTRA SESSION.
Senator Allison said this morning that in
all his experience he had never Known such
a case of backwardness in regard to the ap
preparation bills as now existed. 1t look.
very much as if there might have to be az
extra session, but Congress sometimes does a
marvellous amount of work during the las
two days before adjournment.
COMMISSIONER MONTGOMERY WILL RESIGN
1t is now assured that Commissioner OF
Patents Montgomery will resign his position
clared that he would not remain in his presen,
position four years to be pestered and die.
tated to by members OF Congress, for for
tune. He says he is glad enough to get back
into private life.
Mr. MILLIKEN ASKS VERY PERTINENT
QUESTION.
In the discussion of the Belmont bill in the
House the other day, Mr.. Rice declared that
''we could not afford to go to war with Great
Britain" Suppose she should go to wal
with us?" inquired Mr.. Mlliken.
THE PRESIDENTS VETO OvERRULED.
The Senate last Wednesday by vote O.
55 to passed the pensi bill of Thomas s
II pkins over the Presidents veto. Mr.
Hopkins is native of Mt. Vernon, Me-, ant
served ia the 18th Maine regiment.